Archive for category Tiles
What’s Your Style?
Posted by admin in Best Kitchen Showrooms, Countertops, Eco-Friendly Kitchen Ideas, Kitchen Design Ideas, Kitchen Remodeling Tips, Modern Kitchen Cabinets, Tiles on August 19, 2010
Whether you’re a homeowner or looking to become one, chances are you know how overwhelming choosing cabinets to suit your taste and lifestyle can be.
Well, you’re not alone. Many are confused or unsure about what their kitchen style is or might be. So read on before you begin to remodel. It will make the process much easier for you and for your designer!
Victorian – Usually characterized by steeply pitched roofs, pointed-arch windows, elaborate trim along roof edges, high dormers, lancet windows and other Gothic details. Light fixtures range from chandeliers, kerosene and electric lamps to astrals, and sconces. Cabinets are usually weathered looking and made of heavy, real wood with chrome pulls and knobs.
Modern – Modern styles change from year to year. Most recent designs include sleek, straight and clean lines. Less is more, such as less accessories, visible appliances and details. Common materials include stainless steel, marble, granite and frosted glass. Basic geometric shapes and bold, bright colors such as reds, blues and yellow, black and white are prevalent.
Contemporary - Your tastes include the Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired. Your sensitivity to materials and a natural setting meets with a contemporary bent in home styles like Mission, Prairie and Arts & Crafts. When making your cabinet selection, consider birch as a clean and modern wood species. Choose details like geometric forms, art glass, contrasting textures and lines, and forged and wrought iron pulls.
Southwestern – A lot of detail and craftsmanship. Natural materials such as stucco and hand-painted fabrics are very common, as are wood, quarry tile, ceramic tile, earth tones and vibrant accessories. Colors usually reflect the nature of a desert such as warm oranges, greens, tans and browns. Southwest kitchens usually incorporate ceramic materials and terra cotta elements.
Traditional – Plays up architectural details such as crown moldings, raised wood paneling and rich, deep colors to enhance the mood and ‘traditional’ feel. Dark stains, honey tones, semi-opaque paints, wicker baskets and oak cabinets add to the usually more formal feel than country style.
Eclectic – A mix of old and new features combined for a harmonious look. This style is not characterized by a particular color palette, patterns, style or material but is a mix of extravagant decorations from numerous eras including hand-me-downs, second-hand items and other recyclables. Kitchens and bathrooms range from modern appliances mixed with antique decorations to the complete opposite.
Country – Rustic, weathered look creates a warm, cozy feeling in a country style home. Common colors range from muted hues to earth tones. Exposed beams, pine paneling, brick and barn boards are elements used to express this style. Fabrics and patterns are a sure way to create a ‘country’ feeling, as is the use of wallpaper and baskets.
About workshop/apd
Posted by admin in Best Kitchen Showrooms, Countertops, Eco-Friendly Kitchen Ideas, Kitchen Design Ideas, Kitchen Remodeling Tips, Modern Kitchen Cabinets, Tiles, Uncategorized on July 9, 2010
Eurocucina 2010 sets the start of the new collaboration with the prestigious New York design studio
Posted by admin in Best Kitchen Showrooms, Countertops, Eco-Friendly Kitchen Ideas, Kitchen Design Ideas, Kitchen Remodeling Tips, Modern Kitchen Cabinets, Tiles on May 25, 2010
Eurocucina 2010 sets the start of the new collaboration with the prestigious New York design studio Workshop/apd Timeline is both an idea and a project, the result of a special collaboration with the prestigious New York design studio Workshop/apd. More than architecture, more than a trend, more than design, more than time itself. Andrew Kotchen and Matt Berman are two of the most innovative designers of their generation. Together they set out to prove that intelligent architectural concepts can be translated successfully into responsible real world projects. Matthew Berman “We don’t believe in architectural trends. We do believe in designing places that reflect their surroundings and society. We are committed to reducing the ecological impact that building has on our environment. And we want to ensure that our designs meet the social, environmental and economic needs of our clients.” Sustainable design is, in short, good design. In 2006, actor Brad Pitt and Global Green USA recognized the intelligence of building green—and Workshop/apd won the group’s competition to design a 120-occupant, eco-friendly model housing block for hurricane-ravaged New Orleans. Building broke ground in 2007 and is currently under construction. The Workshop brand has grown and extends to furniture, products, lighting, accessories, and now kitchen systems. This year, we also launched RightFrame, a technology company that automates green home design to change the face and the carbon footprint of the suburban landscape. Architecture is not static. It has political, social, economic, and cultural ramifications, and each building is different. They are part history, part art, part science, part travelogue, and part politics. Design creates culture. Culture shapes values. Values determine the future www.workshopapd.com/home
Limestone Tile
Natural Stone – Limestone
Pros: Wide range of soft colors for creating a soothing, contemporary environment. Makes for an ideal countertop surface in its harder, denser varieties, which resemble granite in their durability. Excellent for showers and bathroom flooring as it offers sure footing.
Cons: Soft, porous limestone can scratch, etch and stain much more easily than the dense varieties. Sealing helps to prevent staining, but will not solve problems with scratching and etching. Penetrating sealer should be applied to countertops, floors and in wet areas. Not recommended for outdoor flooring in areas prone to freezing. Can be pricey.
Installation tips: Substrates must be able to bear a heavy load and be rigid, clean, dry and flat. Concrete or a 1-2 layer of 3/4″ plywood and 1/2″ cement backer board combination are best for floors. Can be installed vertically in dry areas on drywall, green board, masonry or plaster in excellent condition. Blend tiles from all crates to ensure good color flow. Cut using a diamond-blade wet saw or a diamond-blade angle grinder. Light colored tiles should be set with a white modified thinset or marble and granite mix using a trowel that corresponds to the thickness of the tile. Dark colored tiles can be set using a gray modified thinset. Seal tiles well before grouting.
Care and maintenance: Prevent scratching from debris by employing walk-off mats at all entrances. Natural stone tiles are porous and should be sealed with a penetrating sealer. Clean be sweeping, vacuuming and mopping with a gentle neutral pH cleaner or stone soap as needed.
Metal Tile
Metal
Pros: Numerous sizes, shapes, textures and finishes available in addition to accents, trims and borders for use in wet and dry areas. Solid metal tiles are water, stain and frost proof. Easy to install and care for.
Cons: Metal-coated tiles can scratch. Solid metal tiles will acquire a patina over the years. Can be pricey in mass.
Installation tips: Ideal flooring substrates consist of concrete or plywood dressed with cement backer board. In dry areas, tiles can be installed vertically on drywall, green board, plaster, masonry or any clean, intact surface. Cut using hacksaw or an angle grinder fitted with a metal cutting blade. Metal-coated tile can be cut using a wet saw. Roughen the backsides of solid metal tiles with sandpaper to improve adhesion. Set with modified thinset mortar.
Care and maintenance: Clean with a soft dry rag. Solid metal tiles will acquire a patina over time and can be buffed to like new with a metal cleaner. A small amount of paste wax on the tile’s surface at installation will delay the aging process.
Glass Tile
Glass
Pros: Available in an enormous variety of sizes, shapes, color, patterns and textures. Can be used throughout the kitchen and bath and as flooring. Water, stain and frost proof. Easy to maintain.
Cons: Clear types are difficult to install and can scratch. Expensive.
Installation tips: Flooring substrates should be either concrete or plywood and cement board combination. Can be installed vertically in dry areas on drywall, plaster, masonry or any clean, stable surface. Cut tile using a wet saw fitted with a glass-cutting blade. Set tiles using a 1/4″, V-notched trowel and white modified thinset. Clear glass must be set with flattened trowel marks, whereas opaque glass may be set with the notches intact. Care must be taken when installing mosaics to prevent setting material from squeezing up between joints.
Care and maintenance: There is no need to seal glass tile, however, sealing the grout is recommended. Clean with a glass cleaner and buff with a soft dry rag.
Porcelain Tile
Pros: Endless options in size, color, shape, texture and pattern for use just about anywhere in the home. Manufactured in large formats up to 24 inches with rectified edges that allow tile to be set tightly like natural stone. Styles mimic fabric, stone, wood, metal and terra cotta. High-fires for extreme durability. Frost-resistant. Easy to care for.
Cons: Cold and hard underfoot; addition of radiant heating and soft area rugs alleviates the problem. Because of its hardness, it is best cut with a wet saw. More difficult to install than ceramic when using a tight grout joint. Unglazed porcelain must be sealed to prevent staining. More expensive than basic ceramic.
Installation tips: Ideal substrates include concrete or plywood and cement backer board combination. In dry areas, tile can be placed vertically on any clean, durable, flat and intact surface. Cut tiles using a diamond-blade wet saw. Set with modified thinset mortar and square-notched trowel similar in depth to the tile’s thickness.
Care and maintenance: Unglazed porcelain tiles must be sealed with an impregnating sealer prior to grouting to prevent staining. Glazed porcelain tiles are only as strong as the surface glaze itself; be sure to check rating. Through-body porcelains are the hardiest and easiest to maintain. To clean, simply sweep, vacuum, and mop as needed.
Ceramic Tile
Pros: Available in an enormous variety of sizes, colors, shapes, finishes, patterns and textures for use in the kitchen, bath and on the floor. Glazed ceramic floor tiles do not rot, fade, stain, scratch or burn. Nor do they harbor bacteria or odors. Extremely durable, easy to install and maintain. Affordable.
Cons: Cold and hard underfoot; addition of radiant heating and soft area rugs alleviates the problem. Certain finishes can prove slippery when wet. Grout should be sealed to prevent staining.
Installation tips: Substrate must be sturdy, rigid, flat and clean. Can be set over existing floor tiles in excellent shape; however, the preferred substrate consists of concrete or 3/4″ plywood and 1/2′ cement backer board combination. Cuts can be made using a snap cutter, and angle grinder fitted with a diamond/masonry blade or a wet saw. Use a square notched trowel the appropriate thickness of the tile and modified thinset to set.
Care and maintenance: Glazed floor and wall tile does not require sealing; however, it is wise to seal the grout. To clean glazed floor tile, simply sweep, vacuum and mop as needed. For wall tile, use a gentle cleaning agent and soft rag to maintain.